Cops face action after robbery suspect dies in custody

Four cops, including SHO Thikriwala, were suspended over negligence

THEKRI WALA:

A robbery suspect died while in police custody, allegedly as a result of torture. As per the incident report, Mushtaq Ahmed was detained on August 15 over suspicion of robbery in case No. 841/22 392 PPC by Sub-Inspector Abdullah of Thikriwala police station.

He was handed over to in-charge Chowki Khanuana ASI Farooq Nazhar on the order of DSP Saddar, after being held in unlawful custody at Thikriwala police station for four days, due to the bailiff's threat from Mushtaq's family.

DSP Saddar called his old gunman, retired police constable Allah Dutta of Jaranwala, for investigation and interrogated him. Subsequently, Mushtaq was placed in custody after the investigation.

Meanwhile, Mushtaq’s condition deteriorated and he was shifted to Allied Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. His family members arrived at the Allied Hospital Mortuary Unit early in the morning and blocked the road near Allied Mor, alleging that Mushtaq was tortured to death at the hands of police.

As soon as the protest was reported, SSP Investigations Captain (retd) Muhammad Ajmal, SP Iqbal Town Hafiz Kamran Asghar and DSP Civil Lines Rana Attaur Rehman among other police officers reached the spot. They negotiated with the demonstrators and promised them that action would be taken on merit, upon which the protesters dispersed.

Police handed over Mushtaq’s body to his heirs after conducting a post-mortem examination, then his family left for Muzaffargarh.

SSP Investigations Ajmal and SP Iqbal Town Kamran Asghar, while talking to the media, said that Mushtaq Ahmed did not die from torture and the circumstances of his death are mysterious. Action will be taken against those accountable for this crime after receiving the reports and no one is above the law.

Police sources said that businessman Muhammad Javed was robbed of Rs85,000,000 on July 10th at Chak No. 67 JB Siddhar Seem Nahir Link Road. Police arrested Mushtaq Ahmed, a taxi driver, on suspicion and investigated him. Mushtaq passed away during the investigation.

City Police Officer (CPO) Umar Saeed Malik, taking notice of the matter, suspended SHO Sub-Inspector Saqib Riaz, Sub-Inspector Abdullah, In-charge Outpost Khanuana Farooq Nazhar and police constable Arif.

Additionally, Constables Muhammad Afzal, Ali Sher, Muhammad Qasim, Kamal Pasha, Muhammad Qasim, Tahir Shafiq, Muhammad Shakeel, Shehzad Mehmood, and Constable Nouman were suspended, and a four-member committee was formed under the chairmanship of SSP Investigation Muhammad Ajmal, SP Iqbal Town Hafiz Kamran Asghar to probe the incident.

SSP Investigation SP Prashant also met and condoled with Mushtaq’s relatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2022.